Conditioning weak opponents at the final table...standard?

[Garland]

When I was at the final table of a poker tournament, I was playing with 3 or 4 weak players.

Whether it was heads up or 3 handed, I started to raise my standard hands with pairs, Ax, strong king, strong Q and such. If they all folded and are weak opponents, I would flash my A of Ax or pair or the good K conditioning them to believe that I only raise on good hands, which of course is crap.

Then when I have a truly crappy hand 2 or 3 handed like 74o or 23o, and I'm in the small blind, and I'm first to act. Unfortunately, I have a weak hand, but invested too much in the pot to fold to another blind and raise hoping they remember the Ax or pocket pair that I conditioned them to remember. Is this pretty standard?

Or do a lot of good players stick with the "never show" philosophy?

Garland

[dogmeat]

The weaker I think the players are, the more I might be inclined to show something. If you can manipulate them a little, you did good. With better players, I never show anything. Congrats on your win!

Dogmeat [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]

[Potowame]

If they are really weak opponents, can you really manipulate them. You can steal blinds from them with weak hands because they are going to lay down alot of hands, and only call or reraise with big hands. I think this course of play would not change from most weak opponents, if you showed them every hand you raise them with.

I would rather not show a single hand, this might get them alittle tilty. If you are showing them good raising hands, they feel comfortable with thier laydown PF. On the other hand if you appear to be bullying they may start to give you chips on your big hands, but still folding to you the majority of the time [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img].

[SossMan]

between this and your other "blind defense" post, i think you are being a little too tricky...may have worked this time, but it will go against you just as often. Don't be results orientated on these...unless you have a real good handle on your opponents, I tend to be a little more mathmatical in my approach.

[ohkanada]

I wouldn't over do showing your cards. Sure a few conditioning type hands but I wouldn't show weak aces and I would only rarely show any kings. Remember if you are showing Kx hands, even good as KQ, they are still an underdog to Ax.

Ken

[Garland]

Hi Ken,

I only flash the A of my hand, not the crap kicker. I'll never show both cards with an A-any hand. You're right; I don't actually flash them KQ or KJ hands.

Garland

[SossMan]

if you just flash an A, they will correctly assume its an A-rag hand. You don't really want them knowing that you are raising w/ any ace, do you?

[wayabvpar]

The only time I EVER show my cards is when it is folded to me in the BB, and I win the blinds/antes. Even if you are successful in manipulating your weak opponents, you may be giving useful information to your better opponents at the same time.

[Garland]

[ QUOTE ]
You don't really want them knowing that you are raising w/ any ace, do you?

[/ QUOTE ]

Heads up, A-anything is extremely likely to be ahead of my opponent's hand. He's not folding an A anyways.

Garland

[Garland]

[ QUOTE ]
you may be giving useful information to your better opponents at the same time.

[/ QUOTE ]

They were all weak at this table. You're right though. If there is a strong opponent sitting with us, I'd have to tread carefully.

Thanks for your comments,

Garland